I want to just drift through life in Type-Moon.

Page 173

Ever since that exciting day with his sister, this golden wolf has been lingering in the shopping district. There are even rumors that "business will improve as long as you come to the store," which is similar to an urban legend. He is regarded as a Zashiki-warashi (a spirit or shrine maiden) of the shopping district. Even here, he still appears in the major shopping districts of Kanbuko City, and is welcomed by the shopkeepers because of his youthful and perfect appearance.

"It's not the right time yet, because I have a feeling that you will leave this city with him, Orange, and you will be together for a long time. In that case, it doesn't matter to me whether I stay by your side or go with him. The separation from you, Orange, will probably be delayed until after you separate from him~" Beo didn't know whether it was intentional or unintentional, but in any case, He emphasized the fact that He was going to run away.

"Tell me the truth, what exactly is that Servant named Ling?" Orange knew that Beo's departure was inevitable, so she didn't dwell on it any longer. What she was most curious about now was Ling's true form. Beo called him a fellow being, so if there were no surprises, the other party was also a fantasy species living in the modern world.

"I don't know. His true nature is hidden. I can only smell a comfortable scent about him." Beo swung his legs as he looked at Orange.

"Then how do you know he's one of your kind?"

“I know, I know. I can’t explain this to you, Orange, because it’s a kind of connection between us fantasy species.” As he said this, Beo happily ran to the window and looked down. Ling and the others had just walked out of the building. Ling also looked up as if she sensed something. Beo, like a little dog, stuck half of her body out of the window and waved goodbye to Ling.

Ling paused for a moment, then whispered something in Ilya's ear. Ilya then waved goodbye to Beo vigorously on Ling's behalf, since both of Ling's hands were busy.

“That little girl is quite interesting too, much better than that witch.” Beo smiled as he looked at Ilya, who was waving to Him excitedly. “My kind wants to save her, which is a good choice.”

“Homunculi are similar to elves, so it’s normal for you fantasy species to have feelings for them. But your so-called kind probably didn’t ask me to save her for that reason. That person, although they don’t mean us any harm, has some hidden thoughts that even I’m a little afraid of.” Orange took out another cigarette and started puffing away.

"I can't see through what he's thinking, but I get the feeling that he's determined to achieve his goals. This kind of person is probably the kind who will stop at nothing to get what he wants."

"Orange, do you hate Ling?" Beo didn't turn around, still watching Ling gradually reunite with Irisviel and the others.

"—No, I can't hate him." Orange's eyes were a little blurry. "Yes, I can't hate him because I know this person really works hard, without hurting others, willing to pay upfront, and giving me extremely favorable conditions, but that's not a good thing."

Orange smiled wryly, "This kind of unprovoked kindness is really hard to accept. If the favor is too great, it will turn into enmity."

"I think Orange, you can run away too~" Beo said, rarely joking.

"That won't do. This person and I have too deep a connection. Although I don't know what happened between him and me in other worlds, I don't want to ruin this connection. If the other timeline's 'me' finds out, I will definitely be resented for having a connection with him. After all, I got my current opportunity because of those of me who had a past with him."

"Hahaha, that's why I said Orange, your heart is in turmoil. You humans are so complicated~~" Beo shook his sun-like golden hair and finally turned around.

Orange stood up from her chair. Now that she had promised Ling, she had to get to work. She took out the check she had just received and flicked it. "Let's go, Beo. We need to set off. First, let's confirm the information that the Servant gave us. If there are no problems, I'll take care of that girl from the Asagami family first. After all, she has a gem-level Mystic Eye with unlimited potential."

After Ling and the others left the Hall of Garan, Chaldea received the image clearly again. Ling seemed very satisfied with his gains. He hummed a tune as he walked towards Kiritsugu Emiya and the others. In a short time, Kiritsugu Emiya was able to stand up again with the help of Irisviel and Maiya Hisau.

"Did you achieve your goal today?" On the quiet street, Olga looked at the three people in the distance and suddenly felt that the scene was a bit strange. The relationship between the man and the two women was obviously that of a husband, wife and mistress, but now they seemed to be getting along very well.

"It can be considered a success. Although it's not perfect, the most important goal has been achieved, and there have even been some additional gains." Ling shook her hand, which was clasped with Olga's. She felt that Olga's watchful eye on her had become even more intense after she almost escaped, but this was all normal, and Ling was even happy about it now.

"So what are you planning to do next?"

"There's nothing much to do, and didn't you say we'd go shopping again tomorrow? So let's just go for a walk tomorrow." Having clearly understood that Olga hadn't forgiven him, it was best not to go against her wishes for the time being, in order to cheer her up.

"What kind of place is Fuyuki City?" Olga was somewhat concerned about the three unfortunate girls she had been listening to. She already knew about two of them tonight, and she wanted to know about the remaining one as well.

“Sakura Matou’s problem is not something we can interfere with. Unlike Fujino Asagami and Kirie Wujou, whose backers we don’t need to worry about, the Matou family is different. Zouken Matou is an old monster. We have neither the ability nor the reason to interfere.” Rin said these words more to herself than to Olga.

“The tragedy of Matou Sakura began half a year ago, and it’s all too late.” Ling gazed at Emiya Kiritsugu, who was waiting for them ahead. “By this point, her heart has long been broken. She has realized that she cannot disobey Matou Zouken, the head of the family. Even if Kariya tries his best to save her, her worldview has been twisted into an abnormal state, and it will be difficult for her to return to normal. In that case, it is better to leave her alone and take action after her heart has been completely destroyed, and rebuild her personality from the fragments.”

After hearing Ling's words, Olga finally realized that her servant was not a pushover, which made her very satisfied. "Ling, you are indeed very suitable to be a noble. As long as you go back and receive some etiquette education and learn the common knowledge of the various families in the Clock Tower, you will definitely be able to thrive in social circles."

"Ha—what are you talking about, Olga? I'm not going to do that kind of boring thing. I'd rather play video games with a doctor than deal with those people who eat people alive."

"Hmph! That's not up to you! As my servant, you have a responsibility to protect me. Dealing with the Clock Tower nobles in the future is inevitable."

"No thanks, what's the point of dealing with those good-for-nothings? Apart from a few interesting people, I really don't care about anyone else in the entire Clock Tower." Ling knew Olga's plan. If the Human Reason Burning didn't happen, it wouldn't hurt to keep her company for a while. But he had many things he wanted to do, and he wouldn't stop until he figured out what was happening to him.

“I always feel like you have a lot of malice towards the Clock Tower.” Olga frowned in displeasure. “What exactly is your prejudice against the Clock Tower?”

"I don't have any prejudice, I just find it troublesome. In the entire Clock Tower, most people are blinded by their own bloodline, vying for power and scheming against each other with endless tricks. Of the twelve disciplines, apart from the Modern Magic and Creation disciplines which are doing somewhat well, all the other disciplines are regressing. Well, even if they are not regressing, they are causing trouble." Ling bluntly described the entire Clock Tower as dark.

"What, you don't believe me? Then you can see for yourself what happens to your Clock Tower's so-called geniuses in the Holy Grail War in six months. By the way, isn't El-Melloi II the monarch of the Modern Magic Department at Chaldea?" Seeing Olga's displeased expression, Ling couldn't resist teasing her.

Olga nodded.

Back at Chaldea, Waver couldn't help but shudder when he heard Ling mention him.

"I heard that in the Clock Tower female students' poll, that guy won first place as the man I most want to have sex with, right?" Ling's tone was full of schadenfreude.

His premonition came true; this Servant was indeed going to mess with him. Waver's face darkened, and everyone looked at him with strange expressions.

"What do you want to say?" Olga looked at Ling helplessly. How was she supposed to respond to this topic?

"It's nothing, just the Holy Grail War six months later. You can compare the two generations of Lord El-Melloi."

Olga stopped in her tracks at Ling's answer, looking at her with a surprised and uncertain expression. "You mean—"

"That's right, just as you thought. The three starter families will sell a limited number of slots to the Clock Tower at a high price. Kenneth El-Melloi Archibald, who summoned Lancer in the Fourth Holy Grail War, and Atram Gariasta, who summoned Caster in the Fifth Holy Grail War, are like cursed slots. It's like paying money to buy your own life."

As soon as Ling finished speaking, Waver on the Chaldea side became extremely agitated. The death of his teacher, Kenneth El-Melloi Archibald, had always been a regret in his heart. Now, he understood how fair Kenneth's evaluation of him was back then. Although his words were a bit harsh, they were absolutely right. Moreover, if Kenneth hadn't suppressed that thesis and prevented other nobles from seeing its contents, he might have died long ago.

Although he didn't know how Lord Animusha's current worldline differed from the Fourth Holy Grail War he had experienced, he couldn't remain indifferent upon hearing the news of his teacher's death.

Furthermore, that Servant also said that he would participate in the Holy Grail War, so the Heroic Spirit he summoned must be the king he dreamed of seeing again!

"Kenneth El-Melloi Archibald invested a lot in the Fourth Holy Grail War, but he underestimated the war. First, the prepared relics were stolen by the immature Waver Velvet."

Upon hearing this, Weber's breathing quickened.

"Then my fiancée fell in love with Lancer Diarmuid, a Servant summoned using a backup relic. Then, the bomb maniac blew up all my Mystic Codes except for the Moon Spirit Essence. The fortress I had built was completely destroyed before I could even use it, leaving me with a huge debt. Although I know the specific value, I've heard that three magic furnaces are very valuable."

Upon hearing that the upcoming Holy Grail War would destroy three magic reactors, Olga's face instantly turned pale. Meanwhile, on Chaldea's side, Waver's face was no longer pale, but ashen. He pressed his trembling hand to his stomach, thinking of the enormous debt he hadn't yet repaid over the years, and felt an urge to help the other side no matter what.

“Of course it’s very valuable. Even for a monarchical family, this kind of thing is a strategic resource. It’s already quite remarkable to have one on hand. If I’m not mistaken, that prodigy must have rented the other two from someone else. If they were destroyed—” Olga tried to imagine what would happen to the Animusfia family, and her face began to show a look of horror.

"—It's alright, you Animusfia are used to being poor, aren't you? I think that in order to build a complete Chaldea, the Animusfia family's assets are almost gone. You know, your father used to raise this money—" At this point, Ling remembered that this matter seemed to be a secret. He glanced at the green light on his bracelet and didn't continue.

Dr. Roman breathed a sigh of relief, as if he had escaped a close call. He had almost cut off the communication. "What's wrong, Roman?"

Rafe's voice startled Roman. He concealed the panic in his eyes and forced himself to remain calm, saying, "It's nothing. I was just a little surprised to hear Ling suddenly mention the former director."

"Is that so?" Rafe could tell that Roman was hiding something, but he didn't pursue it. Although he didn't know what was hidden, a secret is no longer a secret if multiple people know it.

“Animusfia is not poor!” Olga seemed to have a strong opinion about Ling’s underestimation of her family.

“If you knew the truth, I think you would definitely prefer Animusfia to be poorer, Olga.” Ling looked at Olga with a complicated gaze. “For Animusfia’s long-cherished wish, your family did too many wrong things. To a magician, those things may be normal, but as a person with a conscience, it is impossible to accept those things. And unfortunately, Olga, you are a person with a conscience. Because of those dark past events, you have always been afraid of Mash, right?”

Olga looked at Ling with a pale face, her body swaying involuntarily, clearly feeling that Ling had hit the nail on the head.

On the Chaldea side, many people looked at Mashu with confusion. They didn't know the details, and in their eyes, Mashu was just a cute little girl. Only a few people who knew the truth had different reactions.

Rafe's face was icy, Roman kept sighing, and Leonardo da Vinci could only manage a bitter smile.

In Group A, Kirshtalia Wodim and Ophelia Famsolone had expressionless faces;

Kadoc Zemrups glared at the screen, then looked at Mash with concern.

Hinako Akuta still used a book to cover the lower half of her face, and her gaze behind her glasses was secretly fixed on Mashu;

Peperoncino then walked over to Mashu and quietly asked her if she wanted to have tea together later;

Belial Gutt watched as Mash licked her lips, seemingly lost in thought.

Debit Semi Void's gaze never left the screen from beginning to end, and he remained unmoved by what was happening.

“Mash has never held a grudge against you. When you return to Chaldea, you should find time to have a good talk with Mash and then take full responsibility for what happened.” This was the first time Ling had given Olga such advice. “Bloodline is a very troublesome thing because there are many responsibilities that the bloodline inheritor must bear, even if those mistakes were not made by him/her.”

"Of course, you can also choose to pass these responsibilities to someone else, such as Kirshtalia Wodim. If you relinquish the position of monarch of the Astronomy Department, I think he would be happy to perfectly solve all the problems for you. He is a natural leader and will definitely be able to handle everything." As if tempted by the devil, Ling made such a suggestion to Olga.

"I'm not like you! I won't run away!" Olga's strong pride reminded her of something after being touched on a sore spot, and her stubborn eyes were filled with defiance. "We have to go back together and solve the problems in Chaldea, whether it's Mashu's matter or the destruction of humanity! I will solve them all!"

Chapter 406 Self-Respect and Stubbornness (Part 2)

"Hmm, very impressive. I hope you won't mess things up when the time comes." Ling remained noncommittal to Olga's words. After all, no matter how nice Olga's words were now, it wouldn't make a difference. Those things couldn't be solved by hard work alone.

This world is unfair. Even if you put in your best effort, you may not get any reward. Especially given the situation Olga is about to face, it will not be easy to reverse all the accumulated malice.

"Forget it, those things can only be dealt with when we get back to Chaldea. Now we need to overcome the hurdle of the Fourth Holy Grail War. We still have six months to prepare. With my foresight, as long as I don't expose myself too early, I should be able to hold out until the end." Although Ling knew everything that happened in the Fourth Holy Grail War, he believed that the course of events would not remain unchanged.

Moreover, it is still unclear who his greatest enemy is. Rather than saying that this Holy Grail War is about obtaining the Holy Grail and making a wish across seven Servants, it is more accurate to say that he is facing the awakened Justessa.

Einzbern is divided because of her reawakening, and all the homunculi of Einzbern have become a new force led by her. But he is still worried about who these homunculi will listen to in the end, and what Justeza's true purpose is.

If Justeza prevents him from returning to Chaldea, she will undoubtedly become a more troublesome presence than Black Sakura, because Justeza can be considered a half-magician, and she can also use the Servant Devouring ability that Black Sakura uses.

Justessa is also capable of granting Servants physical bodies and then controlling them. The Greater Grail in Mount Enzo is an extension of her magic circuits. The ley lines of Fuyuki City are under her control, and indirectly, the entire city of Fuyuki is under her control.

This is also why Ling hasn't gone to Fuyuki City yet. Before the Holy Grail War begins in Fuyuki City, he must accumulate enough power to have the confidence to see her. He should also try to avoid choosing Mount Enzo as the location for the Holy Grail manifestation. It is best not to meet Justessa before that ceremony ends.

Because the Holy Grail War took place during the peak of Justeza's power, and after the Holy Grail appeared, most of the magical energy in Fuyuki City's ley lines would be depleted, and it would take sixty years to recover. It was during this time that Justeza would be at its weakest.

That way, whatever Yustissa's plans may be, we can handle things better.

Just then, they passed by the car that Beo had destroyed. This stretch Lincoln hadn't even been on the road for three days before it was destroyed like this, what a waste. Looking at the car cut into pieces, Ling suddenly thought of a question, "Olga, can you drive?"

"?" Olga looked at Ling, puzzled.

“This car is totaled, and the only car left is that one over there. If you can’t drive, we’ll probably have to walk back to the hotel, because this place is so desolate that even taxis don’t come here.” Ling completely ignored the issue of the seriously injured Emiya Kiritsugu’s evacuation and took over the use of the Mercedes without consulting anyone else.

Ling glanced at the Mercedes-Benz 300SL behind Emiya Kiritsugu and the others and thought for a moment. Although the car was a two-seater, it should be able to fit two teenagers and a young girl.

"—I've always had everything arranged by family servants when I travel since I was a child, and given my age, I probably wouldn't even have a driver's license. And why should I drive? Can't you drive?" Olga also looked at the wreckage of the stretch Lincoln with frustration.

“I can drive, but I’m used to left-hand drive cars, and they have to be automatic. That car is right-hand drive and manual. Considering you and little Ilya will be sitting in the passenger seat, I’m a little unsure about my driving skills.” Ling looked at the car in the distance with a subtle expression. He remembered very clearly the scene in F/Z where Mrs. Irisviel was driving this classic 1954 sedan, which was over forty years old, at 200 km/h on the highway.

As a gullwing sports car born for the track, many people are deceived by its elegant and graceful streamlined body, which is as steady as a noblewoman, and forget that it is a track sports car with a parallel six-cylinder engine and a displacement of 2996cc M198 engine. Even though it is a model from forty years ago, its top speed can still reach 246 km/h.

"—Let me make this clear first, I trust you completely. If you say you want to drive that car back, I'll still go with you, even if it costs me my life. But we have plenty of time, so walking is fine too." Olga tossed her hair, biting her pink lips as she spoke, trying to appear calm.

“If you didn’t add that last sentence, I might actually believe it.” Ling gave her a disdainful look. “Guanbuzi’s night road is not easy to walk; it’s easy to run into a murderer.”

"Is the security situation in Japan really that bad?" Olga awkwardly turned her face away and asked, following Ling's words.

"It's not bad, but killers are a specialty of Guanbuzi City. Hmm, I should have asked Beo to come with us when we left. What do you think about us going back and asking Beo to come with us now?"

"So what if he's a murderer? You're a Servant, and none of us here are ordinary people, right? If we encountered an ordinary person, a simple hint would solve the problem, wouldn't it?" Olga glanced around disdainfully, seemingly anticipating the appearance of the so-called murderer.

“Ignorance is bliss. Forget it, let’s meet up with them over there first. Mrs. Alice seems very anxious since her daughter has been missing for so long.” Ling Chongxian strode towards Emiya Kiritsugu and his group.

Just as Ling said, after Ling brought Ilya to Aozaki Touko's place, she waited anxiously. Her husband's injuries were temporarily treated with magic, and after confirming this, Irisviel couldn't help but worry about Ilya.

When they reappeared in her sight, her heart, which had been pounding, finally settled down. If she hadn't been supporting Kiritsugu, she might have run over long ago.

Therefore, when Rin brought Illya to their side, Irisviel couldn't help but let go of Kiritsugu, take Illya from Rin's arms, and excitedly nuzzle her face, saying, "I'm so glad you're alright, Illya!"

“Yes, it’s great that nothing happened this time. After all, it took us a lot of effort to persuade Aozaki Touko because of Kiritsugu’s meddling.” Rin gave Kiritsugu a meaningful look. “Aozaki Touko has agreed to treat Illya, so our trip wasn’t in vain. But I hope that this is the first and last time you acted so arbitrarily, Kiritsugu. Otherwise, I won’t care what happens in the future.”

Emiya Kiritsugu, who had just been seriously injured, looked at Rin with a pale face and said weakly, "That was a necessary measure. I couldn't just stand by and watch my daughter have a chance to be saved without making any preparations."

"No, your preparations were unnecessary. Just like the Einzbern family, they always missed out on the Holy Grail because they did unnecessary things. For Aozaki Touko, money can solve everything, but you're the one making trouble, engaging in some kind of intimidating negotiation, which led to the current result. This time, the cost is several times more than I imagined!"

Olga watched as Rin blatantly lied, her mind filled with scorn. He was the one who generously gave Aozaki Touko money, yet he blamed the problem on Emiya Kiritsugu. However, as someone on Rin's side, she naturally wouldn't expose him, so she watched without uttering a sound from beginning to end.

On the Chaldea side, the investigation team has reached a consensus to temporarily acknowledge Olga Marie's identity, but including Waver, they demand that Chaldea release all previous records regarding Chaldea's observation of Olga Marie, as well as everything that happened after Ling was summoned by Chaldea.

"We cannot provide you with the previous communication records with the director." Leonardo da Vinci, as the technical advisor of Chaldea, spread his hands and looked at Waver, who had an anxious expression. After hearing that Kenneth El-Melloi Archibald and Waver Velvet would be participating in the Fourth Holy Grail War, El-Melloi II had shown an unusual anxiety compared to his previous calm.

"Why?" Waver just wanted to finish the investigation as soon as possible, and then cooperate with Chaldea as the monarch of the modern magic department to find a way to contact them as soon as possible. Because what was happening in front of him was a miracle in another sense. Even if it had nothing to do with him in this world, as long as it could change the fate of Kenneth in the other world, at least the deepest regret in his heart would be relieved.

"In the report we submitted to you before, we already noted that we were able to establish communication between the two worlds by borrowing the power of the Atlas Institute. All the records at that time were monitored by the Atlas Institute's Special Technical Advisor, Shion Eltram Atlasia. Our Chaldea system was under their control, so at their request and notification, we Chaldea only managed to record a portion of the records based on our personal memories. All the data records were wiped clean, and the only one that had a backup was probably Ms. Shion."

Leonardo da Vinci looked at the investigation team with a smile, speaking with complete confidence.

"So what about the records of that Servant? Even if there were no records from that previous communication, he has been summoned by Chaldea for a long time. You can't say there are no records of his daily life, can you?" Ryori Adashino pushed up her glasses and asked from behind Waver.

Olga Marie's matter is no longer important. What matters is the Servant named Listener. Chaldea had previously concealed the fact that Director Olga Marie had summoned a new Servant without authorization, but it was eventually reported by a spy hidden within Chaldea.

Olga Marie was summoned to the Clock Tower for questioning about this matter, but the Clock Tower did not take it seriously at the time because they learned that the summoned Heroic Spirit was an unknown figure whose Spirit Base stat was even lower than that of a high-ranking mage.

However, no one expected that Chaldea was hiding such a big secret. Now that the investigation team knows the true value of Ling, a battle for her has begun.

“Yes, there are some, but not many records. The child spends most of his time in my workshop, and my workshop is not under Chaldea’s surveillance. This is an agreement I signed with the former director, so you have no right to interfere.” Da Vinci was clearly prepared for what was happening. She used the deceased former director as a shield, which was an exceptionally prudent move, as there was no way to verify anything.

This answer made Hirori Adashino narrow her eyes.

Waver didn't want to waste time on this. He looked at Da Vinci and said, "Forgive my frankness, but everyone has witnessed the special nature of that Servant. I don't think Chaldea has any need to hide anything. Therefore, I want to obtain all the records about this Servant from the time she was summoned by Chaldea to the time she accidentally traveled to another world line. In order to do so, I will make an objective evaluation of Chaldea's handling of this matter. At the same time, I propose that our Modern Magic Department and Chaldea cooperate to quickly create a communication device with the other world line. If we can communicate directly, we can determine the authenticity of Lord Animusphia and better ensure her safety."

Weber's meaning is quite clear: he wants to stand on Chaldea's side and hopes to establish contact with another world. As for what he wants to do, everyone knows the answer.

As a family of magicians that has only lasted for three generations, Waver's story of becoming El-Melloi II is no secret in the Clock Tower. It is common knowledge that his master, Kenneth El-Melloi Archibald, was not closely related to him. Waver has also lamented in public on more than one occasion that Kenneth's death was an extremely regrettable event, because Kenneth had the potential to become the highest-ranking magician in the Clock Tower, a pinnacle that many monarchs have failed to reach—the title known as the "Grand Master."

“I’ll put in a good word for you over there, but I request to stay in Chaldea, is that alright?” After Waver, it was Aozaki Touko who spoke up. She winked at Leonardo da Vinci with interest. “After all, this matter has already involved me. Unlike Lord El-Melloi II, who is obsessed with the past, I am obsessed with the unknown. I think Chaldea will definitely not refuse my request.”

Orange spoke with unprecedented assertiveness, then looked at Mashu, who was holding Fou, with gentle eyes, "I'm an expert in human anatomy. Staying here might be of some help."

She hadn't noticed it before, but after hearing that the director of Chaldea was afraid of a girl named Mash, Touko realized something was off about her. It also seemed that the people in Chaldea who had decision-making power were very concerned about this girl, so she used this as a starting point.